From: [X]Bill Norvell 1965 | Date: 2026-10-10 20:56:05

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  Lou Ann Crossetta Gregory passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was 90 years old. Lou Ann was born on May 20, 1936, in Newburgh, NY, the oldest child to William and Edna (D'Aprile) Crossetta. Lou Ann attended Newburgh schools including Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) before graduating high school from Mt. St. Mary's in Newburgh in 1956. Lou Ann then attended New Paltz University before transferring to Russell Sage College in Troy, NY where she earned her bachelor's degree. Lou Ann went on to receive her master's degree in education from Columbia University while working as a teacher at Balmville School in Newburgh.
Lou Ann married John Leonard Gregory in 1961 and they moved to Madison, NJ where she had her first child, a daughter. During this time, Lou Ann also worked as a guidance counselor at Summit High School in Summit, NJ. The couple moved to Kwajalein Island, the test site for the antiballistic project, in the Marshall Islands in 1963 while John worked for Bell Labs. While living on Kwajalein, Lou Ann established the guidance counselor's position at the high school on the island. Lou Ann also gave birth to her second child, a son, while living there. The couple returned to New Jersey with their two children in 1965 and settled in Chatham where they had two more daughters. They decided to move their growing family to Madison, NJ in the early 1970s, however John's career path took them briefly to the Bay Area of California where they lived in Walnut Creek for two years. Upon returning to NJ, Lou Ann continued to build a successful career in real estate that she had started while living in CA.
Lou Ann spent many years involved in various philanthropic and volunteer opportunities including the Junior League of Morristown, the Women's Association at Morristown Medical Center (formerly known as Morristown Memorial Hospital), the Mansion in May, and as a founding member of the women's auxiliary for Covenant House Newark. Lou Ann was also active in her children's elementary school parent's associations. Lou Ann held many interests throughout her life including participating in active sports such as skiing and tennis, as well as playing bridge, spending many summers with her family at the Noe Pond Club in Chatham, NJ and extensive travel all over the world. Lou Ann was adventurous and her travels brought her to the former Soviet Union, India, Thailand, Bali, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, many islands in the Caribbean, and most of Europe.
Lou Ann is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 65 years, John Gregory; her four children, Stephanie Gironda of Bayonne, NJ and her wife, Deborah; Jonathan Gregory of New York City and his husband, Miguel Farro; Pamela Gregory of Convent Station, NJ; Laura van der Hulst of Hoboken, NJ and her husband, Steven Heinowitz; and her six grandchildren: Patrick Gironda, David Gironda, Nathaniel van der Hulst, Emily van der Hulst, Annabelle van der Hulst, and Benjamin van der Hulst. Lou Ann is also survived by her brother, James Crossetta of New Windsor, NY and predeceased by her brother, William Crossetta, Jr. of Williamsville, NY.

Visitation will be held at Wm. A. Bradley & Son Funeral Home in Chatham, NJ on Monday, August 17, 2026, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, NJ at 1:00pm with interment immediately following at St. Vincent's Cemetery also in Madison, NJ.

Published by The Star Ledger on Aug. 15, 2026.

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